AuthorTopic: NEW!!! The Soft Skills Test!!! (Read 1745 times)

It is based on case studies from "Soft Skills for Lawyers". I thought it was a stupid test at first but actually it seems to me that it makes a lot of sense and can really help a lot!! The answers to the questions are on www.chelseapublishing.com.

Question #1: Showing confidence to partners

You are discussing a case with a partner in their office and the telephone rings. The partner answers the phone and starts talking with the caller, without giving you any indication as to whether the call will be long. What should you do?

A) Attract the partner's attention with a gesture and query whether you should go and come back later.B) Try to make eye contact with the partner and query whether you should go and come back later.C) Remain where you are and show that you’re interested in the call.D) Remain where you are and start pretending to review your papers and notes so as to show that you have something to do while he is speaking.

Question #2: Choosing the Right Seat

You enter a meeting room and find a dozen of people sitting around a large table. Your firm’s partner and an associate are sitting at one side of the table and you notice there are two free seats where you could possibly seat: one is next to the associate and the other is next to the partner. The seat next to the partner is at the head of the table. Where should you sit?

A) Next to the associate. It is impolite to sit at the head of a table unless invited to do so.B) Next to the partner. There is nothing wrong in sitting at the head of the table.

Question #3: Automobile etiquette

The cab you called to take you and two senior lawyers from your firm to a meeting has just arrived. As you approach the cab, you wonder who among your party should enter the car first and where you should sit.

A) You should invite colleagues to enter the cab first and let them choose the seat that they prefer.B) Since you called the cab, you should enter first and sit behind the driver so that you can easily give them instructions.C) There are no rules of etiquette governing this situation. You shouldn’t worry about who should enter the car first and where you should sit.

Giuseppe is originally from Bari (Italy) and is a graduate of the Catholic University of Milan.

Giuseppe, who has been involved in academic and educational projects for a number of years, founded Chelsea Publishing in December 2005 and is Chelsea Publishing’s editor and managing director. He is also the author of Chelsea Publishing’s first publication, “Soft Skills for Lawyers”.

Giuseppe works as a Solicitor in a City firm and specialises in corporate finance and regulatory work.

1) All 8 of your posts begin "Guys" and are riddled with double exclamation points and question marks.2) The author of this book is not a lawyer, has not been to law school and is not in the American legal field that most people on this board want to work within.

So how exactly is it that you expect to have your "books" (PDFs) sell through posts like this?

I don't think paratactical is being harsh at all. If someone is not a lawyer, and not at a firm, how are they to speak with any authority on how things work there? Maybe the book should be titled "Soft Skills for Professionals." Targeting something toward lawyers or more importantly, unsuspecting soon-to-be lawyers, seems a bit irresponsible if the author does not have experience in that field.

Plus from the questions, it seems like nothing you can't learn from a manners course.

Pennylane, thank you for your constructive response. It's paratactical who says that the author is not a lawyer but if you go on the website it is clear that he is a lawyer indeed. That's why I wanted to defend him - you are of course all free to believe what you want.

Anyway, I have bought the book and can confirm that it's 100% genuine and (for me at least) a very good read!

Pennylane, thank you for your constructive response. It's paratactical who says that the author is not a lawyer but if you go on the website it is clear that he is a lawyer indeed. That's why I wanted to defend him - you are of course all free to believe what you want.

Anyway, I have bought the book and can confirm that it's 100% genuine and (for me at least) a very good read!

All the best to everyone with your exams!!!!!

Wait, I thought you were about to buy your copy on ebay. How fast do you read?

Logged

This was my countryThis frightful and this angry land

"I guess she was a hooker, that makes sense, those shorts didn't really look all that comfortable." -Dash

Pennylane, thank you for your constructive response. It's paratactical who says that the author is not a lawyer but if you go on the website it is clear that he is a lawyer indeed. That's why I wanted to defend him - you are of course all free to believe what you want.

Anyway, I have bought the book and can confirm that it's 100% genuine and (for me at least) a very good read!

All the best to everyone with your exams!!!!!

Please provide a link directly to the page that says the author is a lawyer.

The thing in the quote box in my previous post is copied from the page where there is no mention of his JD, LLM or any firm experience. Which, I would think, might be pertinent.

Yeah I am glad someone else noticed that they ordered and read their copy the same day.

I guess it is possible to find it in a store somewhere. But that still gives the person only 40 minutes to drive, purchase the book, read it, digest it, form an opinion on it, and post how great it was.

I'd like to add that the profile says the author went to school in Italy and works in London. Although I obviously did not work at a firm or attend school there, I have to say there are major cultural differences.

How is this person an authority on how to get ahead at AMERICAN firms? Americans and Europeans are very different breeds.